Vettel goes back to Baku with a hard-learned lesson

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Ten months after he lost his cool and rammed into Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel returns to Baku as the championship leader but more importantly, a very wiser man.

Last year's infamous run-in between the two arch-rivals was well chronicled, but the German driver took away from the incident a hard-learned lesson.

"After the race I had the worst feeling," Vettel told Welt newspaper.

"I had to grapple with it."

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While the mishap had no impact on the drivers' standings at the time, Vettel still remembers the blunder as a pivotal moment in his failed championship bid.

“That's the way it is in life. The things that you screwed up yourself hurt you the most," he added.

A clear indication of Vettel's improved attitude in the heat of the moment since then was offered as recently as in China, when an over-zealous Max Verstappen barged into the side of the four-time world champion's Ferrari.

He assessed the situation, reported back to his team, and had a word with the perpetrator after the race, ultimately praising Verstappen for owning up to his fault.

"I was quiet in the car, because I had to try to somehow bring the car to the finish in order to save at least a few points."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.